Man United up the ante in chase for Pogba

MANCHESTER UNITED are prepared to smash the British transfer record £78million to get Juventus star Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford, according to the Mirror.

It’s no secret new United boss Jose Mourinho is a huge fan of the midfielder, having tried desperately to sign him during his time in charge of Chelsea.

And the Red Devils have been given further encouragement with the same source revealing neighbours Manchester City have dropped their interest after refusing to meet Juve’s valuation of the France international.

Pogba, however, has said in the past he is keen to experience playing in Spain and with both Real Madrid and Barcelona competing in the Champions League next season – something United cannot offer – it still appears a long shot that he will return to Old Trafford four years after he left on a Bosman for a compensation fee of just £800,000.

With the new Premier League TV rights deal kicking in from next season, United will be able to match, if not better, the wages either of the La Liga giants can offer – but whether Pogba fancies a move back to England is another matter.

Back then, he was a highly promising player trying to make his breakthrough into senior football and he felt he needed to leave United after not getting enough opportunities under then-boss Sir Alex Ferguson, starting just three times for the Red Devils.

And, while there’s no doubt Pogba would walk into the United team now, the fact that Fergie is still involved at Old Trafford as a director may prove a sticking point, with the Scot once claiming Pogba had left without “showing us any respect at all”.